I absolutely loved this book! From the very first page, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. Following Elle and Nicky on their journey, especially through the high-stakes world of tennis, was a real treat. The author did a fantastic job of capturing the intensity of the matches, and I found myself completely immersed in the action. As a tennis fan, the descriptions of the matches, particularly those set at Wimbledon, were spot on — I could almost feel the tension in the air.

The chemistry between Elle and Nicky was electric, and I enjoyed watching their relationship evolve. However, the storyline involving cheating left me with mixed feelings. While it was clear that Nicky and Mac weren't a good match, it was a bit difficult to reconcile the moral dilemma of Elle and Nicky starting a hidden relationship while still involved with other people. This element was a bit unsettling for me, but it also added complexity to the characters’ journey and motivations.

Despite initial reservations, I was thoroughly satisfied by the end. The emotional payoff was worth the ride, and the book left me with a lasting impression. As someone who loves Wimbledon, this book hit all the right notes. I’m already looking forward to diving into more of this author’s work!

This is hot, Hot, HOT!
The sexual chemistry between Elle and Nicky is sizzling.
And the scenes when they give into what they are clearly feeling are enough to get you all hot and bothered.

In fact I was reading most of this sitting on the edge of a pool so that I could splash water on me when needed to cool myself down... although arguably reading this in private to full appreciate some of the scenes may have been a smarter move!

A private chef and a top level Tennis player is a fabulous combination, and I loved rooting on Nicky as he attempts to re-gain his form on the court.

If you aren't a massive tennis fan then don't worry there aren't too many sporty scenes of actual game play action - although there is plenty of other action if you catch my drift.

For me this was a perfect summer read, and I couldn't get enough of the story, the characters, the settings, as we follow the Tennis tour around the world, including thanks to Sky Tennis launching this year, a whole bunch of tournaments that I've actually seen bits of this year.

Tennis, good food, excellent sex what more could a girl ask for in a book!

Thank you to Hera and Netgalley and this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I really love watching Wimbledon so when I saw this book I knew I had to read it! This sports romance follows Elle, a personal chef looking for a job and a reason to leave her heating boyfriend, and Nicky an American pro tennis player struggling to find form after winning a Gland Slam.Holed up in a house near in SW19, Elle quickly bonds with Nicky over late night chats and food, but there’s a complication in the form of Nicky’s fiancée. Wimbledon may be cut short however Nicky and his team decide Elle needs to stay and so she’s invited to the US to be his personal chef as well as to travel the world on the tennis tour with him.

Overall I really enjoyed this story, it got me in the mood for a reading summer romances in the sun and watching Wimbledon on the TV. The chemistry between Elle and Nicky is palpable, and their journey together is filled with real highs and lows. The one aspect that I did struggle with was the cheating element as Elle was cheated on so understands the pain and hurt that it causes, it felt slightly off that she would then actively participate in cheating - especially when she knew the fiancée and they all practically lived together! However I didn’t let this stop me from enjoying the overall story, and I genuinely did enjoy it. It was fun, spicy and hit all the right notes of a sports romance!

If you’re a fan of sports romances or looking for a book to get you in the summer spirit, this one is a must-read. It beautifully captures the intensity of both professional sports and complicated relationships, all while keeping you hooked until the last page.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Publishing for providing me with an ARC !

I have to say I loved everything about this book besides the cheating. It’s one of my least favourite, if not my least favourite trope. That made it a little harder to see the main characters as good people and truly empathise with them as well as their romance.

Other than that I must say, Tennis AKA my favourite sport was at the chore of this romance, so of course I had to read the book 🤩It follows the typical romance plot, so nothing new under the sun but still thoroughly enjoyable and addictive. Indeed, I read it in four (busy) days !

"Love Game" by Emma Rae is a delightful and captivating romance that expertly blends humor, passion, and the complexities of modern relationships. Rae’s writing is engaging and full of charm, drawing readers into the lives of her well-rounded characters who are as relatable as they are lovable. The story unfolds with a perfect mix of tension and tenderness, exploring the challenges and joys of falling in love when life’s playing field is anything but level. With witty dialogue, a strong emotional core, and just the right amount of drama, "Love Game" is a thoroughly enjoyable read that will resonate with anyone who loves a good romance. Emma Rae has crafted a story that is not only entertaining but also heartwarming, making it a perfect escape for readers looking for love and laughter in equal measure.

A fun spicy tennis romance with slightly questionable themes but an overall well written and enjoyable read with great characters and plenty of sporty moments!

This was a great romantic comedy. I don't often pick books with sports themes but this one was great and I would gladly read it again!

My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to the author and Netgalley.

General Thoughts: I didn't realize this was a cheating trope book going in, so if that is a hard pass for you, then this book is not for you. I thought aspects of the book were extremely well done. I liked the premise and Elle's character. Her job was fun and a book about tennis was great. I also liked a lot of the secondary characters.

I don't love the cheating trope, and I probably wouldn't have read it had I known that would be such a huge part of the novel, honestly. That may have factored into my review slightly. However, the one aspect I wish had been a bit different was Nicky's character development. I would have liked to see a bit more growth between them. Their relationship also often felt physical/sexual rather than more intimate and personal. I would have liked to believe in their relationship a bit more.

However, I enjoyed Emma's writing style and I'd be curious to see what she comes up with next. A quick read that I flew through.

Spice Meter: ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Romantic Tropes
-single POV
-romance
-contemporary realistic
-cheating/other woman drama
-sports romance
-tennis

You can read more of my reviews on Insta @mylastromancenovel.

Extremely thankful for the arc opportunity I was given. I did not end up publishing a review because I personally did not enjoy the book to the fullest extend that perhaps another reader would. For a debut novel the writing itself had great merit, Lily is a talented writer. However, it was the execution of the plot that lost my interest and truthfully, willpower to keep reading. Overall, it was not my cup of tea but I could see how it would be someone else’s.

I was not super in love with the cheating trope however it was very entertaining to read. I felt like it was reality television or something (which isnt everyones cup of tea but when it works, it works)

GUYS! I was completely obsessed with this book. When I say I couldn't put it down, that's honestly an understatement. I read it as part of a buddy read with my friend, and we were both totally hooked. Our WhatsApp conversations were on fire!

I noticed some reviewers gave it low ratings because of the cheating trope, but I think that's really unfair. The writing kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. I don't know anything about tennis, but I devoured every bit of it. The chemistry between the characters was amazing, and the settings and supporting characters were just as great.

We loved it so much that when it was released I contacted the author to arrange a signed copy for my friends birthday and she was so kind and accommodating.

I’m a big fan now and eager to read her next works.

Wanted to love this one, but if you're not totally sold on the cheating trope, it's a hard one to get into. Loved the set up of the two individual characters, but struggled to make it through the trope itself, though that's definitely down to personal preference.

The characters are well drawn, and the writing is engaging. Otherwise a fast read!

Emma Rae skillfully blends humor, romance, and emotional depth in "Love Game," creating a narrative that is both entertaining and heartfelt.

I was more invested in the plot and how everything would play out than the actual relationship (I'm normally the other way round)

The relationship between the two main characters is kept a secret up until the third act conflict due to the male main character being engaged to someone else, as previously mentioned I was definitely more invested in the plot and seeing how things would play out (with coming out with their relationship, him breaking up his engagement) and I did enjoy it

I didn't fully buy into the relationship between the main characters, it felt a lot more lust and physical attraction than love and really knowing each other to me

- sports romance (tennis)
- tennis player x private chef
- sneaking around
- forced proximity
- cheating

Thank you to NetGalley and Hera books for the ARC - all opinions are my own

This book was not what i was expecting and little misleading. Although the chemistry between Nicky and Elle was undeniable and emanated off of the page I could not get over the betrayal and cheating that was sprinkled throughout the book. It felt like someone was constantly cheating which is not my cup of tea. Although I did like Nicky and Elle's chemistry I didn't love either of them as main characters.

I'm sorry I couldn't get behind this book even though I did read the whole thing because I did enjoy parts of the author's writing. But I think the cheating trope just isn't for me, and the story could have had legs without it in my opinion!

This was cute, but I am so tired of toxic alpha male characters. I felt like Nikki only got his head out of his ass once he'd well and truly treated Elle like shit. It was frustrating to read. I can't say that I enjoyed that there were what felt like multiple cheating tropes. This was a miss for me.

(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an early read in return for an honest review!)

2.5 stars / 5

I loved the characters of this book from the get go, they were written so well and Elle was so loveable and you got to bond with her so well from the start. I loved the cooking theme throughout as it was different to other romance tropes I’ve ever read. However, I really disliked the whole cheating plot between Elle and Nicky, especially as Elle herself is cheated on, and it is a big event for a few of the chapters, and it really has an impact on Elle. This really just made me dislike the characters quite a bit, as I couldn’t really come back from that.

Spotted my latest buddy read with @rarelyreadingclassics in the wild today! And in the 3 for £6 deal at @theworksstores no less!

We absolutely flew through this read and the chat was going off on What’s App! I just loved the sports element and as much as I love hockey romance, this was a refreshing change! I don’t know about tennis but I was definitely rooting for Nicky to win!

A tennis pro, a personal chef whose life isn’t going as she’d planned and a few bumps along the road made for a very good read. Fast paced, funny, laugh out loud moments and just generally a REALLY good time! Thank you @emmarae.author for giving me and Harriett our buddy reading mojo back!

*thanks to @netgalley for letting me read this and sharing an honest review.